Sealing cover boot and cover and interconnection junctions protected thereby

ABSTRACT

A hollow cover boot formed of an elastomeric material includes, in merging succession, a cable collar, a main section, a transition section, and an interconnection section, wherein the main section has a diameter greater than the cable collar and the interconnection section, and the transition section tapers between the main section and the cable collar.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of and claimspriority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/493,830 filed Apr. 21,2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,966,744, which is a continuation applicationof and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/245,443,filed Apr. 4, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,653,895, which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/906,134, filedNov. 19, 2013, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated hereinby reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a device for environmentally sealingand securing the interconnection between electrical cables.

BACKGROUND

Interconnection junctions, such as the interconnection between twocables or a cable and a piece of electronic equipment, may be subject todegradation from environmental factors such as moisture, vibration andrepeated expansion and contraction from daily temperature changes. Outersealing enclosures that surround or enclose an electricalinterconnection have been used to protect such interconnections.Enclosures often apply rigid clamshell configurations that, once closed,may be difficult to open, especially when installed in exposed or remotelocations, such as atop radio towers; gaskets or gel seals may beapplied at the enclosure ends and/or along a sealing perimeter of theshell.

Elastic interconnection seals are also known. Elastic seals can beadvantageous by virtue of being more easily installed over the typicallyuneven contours of an electrical interconnection. Exemplaryconfigurations are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/646,952, filed Oct. 8, 2012, and Ser. No. 13/938,475, filed Jul. 10,2013, the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated byreference herein.

SUMMARY

As a first aspect, embodiments of the invention are directed to aninterconnection junction comprising a trunk cable having a firstconnector at one end and a jumper cable having a second connector at oneend. A hollow cover boot formed of an elastomeric material includes, inmerging succession, a cable collar, a transition section, a mainsection, and an interconnection section, wherein the main section has adiameter greater than the cable collar and the interconnection section,and the transition section tapers between the main section and the cablecollar. A hollow cover formed of an elastomeric material includes, inmerging succession, a cable section, a transition section, a mainsection, and an interconnection section, wherein the interconnectionsection has a diameter greater than the main section and the cablesection, and the transition section tapers between the main section andthe cable section. The first connector and second connector are joinedand reside within the main section and the interconnection section ofthe cover boot, and the interconnection section of the cover at leastpartially overlies the interconnection section of the cover boot.

As a second aspect, embodiments of the invention are directed to amethod of protecting an interconnection junction between a first cableand a second cable, the first and second cables each terminating in,respectively, first and second connectors. The method comprises thesteps of: (i) providing the first and second cables, wherein the secondcable is inserted into a hollow cover boot and a hollow cover, the coverboot being formed of an elastomeric material and including, in mergingsuccession, a cable collar, a transition section, a main section, and aninterconnection section, wherein the main section has a diameter greaterthan the cable collar and the interconnection section, and thetransition section tapers between the main section and the cable collar,the cover being formed of an elastomeric material and including, inmerging succession, a cable section, a transition section, a mainsection, and an interconnection section, wherein the interconnectionsection has a diameter greater than the main section and the collarsection, and the transition section tapers between the main section andthe cable section; (ii) joining the first connector to the secondconnector to form an electrical interconnection; (iii) advancing thecover boot on the second cable to cover the electrical connection, suchthat the first connector and second connector reside within the mainsection and the interconnection section of the cover boot and the cablecollar engages the first cable; and (iv) advancing the cover on thesecond cable such that the interconnection section of the cover at leastpartially overlies the interconnection section of the cover boot,thereby sealing the electrical interconnection.

As a third aspect, embodiments of the invention are directed to a hollowcover boot formed of an elastomeric material, the cover boot comprising,in merging succession, a cable collar, a main section, a transitionsection, and an interconnection section, wherein the main section has adiameter greater than the cable collar and the interconnection section,and the transition section tapers between the main section and the cablecollar.

As a fourth aspect, embodiments of the invention are directed to ahollow cover boot formed of an elastomeric material, the cover bootcomprising, in merging succession, a cable collar, a transition section,a main section, and an interconnection section, wherein the main sectionhas a diameter greater than the cable collar, the interconnectionsection has a diameter great than the main section, the transitionsection tapers between the main section and the cable collar, and thecable collar is oriented approximately 90 degrees from theinterconnection section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cover boot for an interconnectionjunction according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the cover boot of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front section view of the cover boot of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cover to be used in conjunction withthe cover boot of FIG. 1 according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the cover of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a front section view of the cover of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a front cutaway view showing the cover boot of FIG. 1 used toprotect an interconnection junction of a jumper cable and a trunk cableof a first configuration.

FIG. 8 is a front cutaway view of the interconnection of FIG. 7 with thecover of FIG. 4 added.

FIG. 9 is a front cutaway view showing the cover boot of FIG. 1 used toprotect an interconnection junction of a jumper cable and a trunk cableof a second configuration.

FIG. 10 is a front cutaway view of the interconnection of FIG. 9 withthe cover of FIG. 4 added.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a cover boot for an interconnectionjunction according to alternative embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a top view of the boot of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a top section view of the boot of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which certain embodiments of the invention are shown. Thisinvention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and shouldnot be construed as limited to the embodiments that are pictured anddescribed herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that thisdisclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey thescope of the invention to those skilled in the art. It will also beappreciated that the embodiments disclosed herein can be combined in anyway and/or combination to provide many additional embodiments.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms that areused in this disclosure have the same meaning as commonly understood byone of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Theterminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused in this disclosure, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will also be understood that when an element(e.g., a device, circuit, etc.) is referred to as being “connected” or“coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled tothe other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast,when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or“directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elementspresent.

Referring now to the figures, a cover boot for an interconnectionjunction of coaxial connectors, designated broadly at 10, is illustratedin FIGS. 1-3. The boot 10 includes a generally cylindrical main section12. A generally cylindrical cable collar 14 is somewhat smaller indiameter than the main section 12. One end of the main section 12 mergeswith a tapered transition section 16, which in turn merges with thecable collar 14. A diamond-shaped flange 20 extends radially outwardlyfrom the free end of the cable collar 14. The opposite end of the mainsection 12 includes a wall 13, to which is attached a generallycylindrical interconnection section 18. The interconnection section 18is smaller in diameter than the main section 12 and may be smaller orlarger in diameter than the cable collar 14. A neck 19 (narrower stillin diameter) extends from the free end of the interconnection section18. The resulting structure is hollow and defines a continuous bore 26that passes through each of the substantially coaxial sections 12, 14,16, 18, 19.

Four fins 24 are positioned approximately circumferentially equidistantfrom each other on the outer surface of the main section 12 andtransition section 16. The fins 24 extend the length of the main section12 and transition section 16 and project radially outwardly. Twoaxially-extending ribs 22 are positioned between each of the fins 24.

The boot 10 may be formed of any number of materials, but is typicallyformed of an elastomeric material, such as rubber, that can recover toits original shape after significant deformation. The boot 10 istypically formed as a unitary member, and in particular may be formedvia injection molding.

The boot 10 can be used in conjunction with a second cover (designatedbroadly at 30 and illustrated in FIGS. 4-6) to protect aninterconnection of coaxial or other electrical connectors. As shown inFIGS. 4-6, the cover 30 includes a generally cylindrical interconnectionsection 32 with a circumferential projection 33. A diamond-shaped flange34 is mounted to the interconnection section 32 via a short trunk 36. Agenerally cylindrical main section 38 merges with the interconnectionsection 32 opposite the trunk 36. The main section 38 is smaller indiameter than the interconnection section 32. A tapered transitionsection 40 merges with the main section 38; in turn, a generallycylindrical cable section 42 merges with the transition section 40. Thecover 30 also includes two opposed axially-extending fins 45 thatproject radially outwardly and three axial ribs 44 between the fins 45on each side. Thus, the hollow, generally coaxial sections of the cover30 define a continuous bore 46.

The cover 30 may be formed of any number of materials, but is typicallyformed of an elastomeric material, such as rubber, that can recover toits original shape after significant deformation. The cover 30 istypically formed as a unitary member, and in particular may be formedvia injection molding.

As can be seen in FIGS. 7-10, the boot 10 and cover 30 can be employedtogether to enclose and protect an interconnection of coaxial connectorsor other electrical, fiber optic and/or hybrid connectors. FIGS. 7 and 8illustrate one exemplary configuration for a coaxial connector 100 usedon a trunk cable. More specifically, the connector 100 terminates theend of trunk cable 120. The connector 100 includes a body 102 and a stem104 that extends axially away from the body 102. A nut 106 is rotatablycaptured on the stem 104. A connector 150 terminates the end of a jumpercable 160. The connector 150 includes a threaded stem (not shown) thatextends away from the cable 160. As can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, thenut 106 of the connector 100 is threaded onto the stem of the connector150 to establish an electrical interconnection 170 between the trunkcable 120 and the jumper cable 160. Such connectors are available fromCommScope, Inc. (Hickory, N.C.) under the trade name POSITIVE STOP.

As shown in FIG. 7, the boot 10 encloses the interconnection 170. Thebody 102 of the connector 100 fills the interior of the main section 12and the transition section 16, which stretches to conform to the shapeof the body 102. The cable collar 14 encircles the trunk cable 120. Theinterconnection section 18 encloses the stem 104 and nut 106 of theconnector 100. The neck 19 encloses the remainder of the connector 150.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the cover 30 can then be applied to the boot10. More specifically, the interconnection section 32 of the cover 30fits over part of the interconnection 170, with the flange 34 positionedadjacent the main section 12 of the boot 10. The main section 38 andtransition section 40 fit over the jumper cable 160. Because the cover30 overlies the interconnection section 18 and neck 19 of the boot 10, aseal is formed over the interconnection 170 that can help to protect itfrom moisture and other environmental agents.

In practice, prior to interconnection of the jumper cable 160 with thetrunk cable 120, typically both the boot 10 and the cover 30 areinserted via their bores 26, 46 onto the jumper cable 160. Although theboot 10 and cover 30 fit snugly onto the jumper cable 160 due to thesizing of the neck 19 and the cable section 42, the boot 10 and cover 30can slide along the length of the jumper cable 19 with some tugging byan operator. The boot 10 is positioned nearer the connector 150 than isthe cover 30. Once the jumper cable 160 is connected with the trunkcable 120 (via threading of the nut 106 of the connector 100 onto thethreaded stem of the connector 150), the boot 10 is slipped over theinterconnection into the position shown in FIG. 7. The resilience andelasticity of the material of the boot 10 enable it to deformelastically to be slipped over the connectors 100, 150. Once the boot 10is in place, the interconnection section 32 of the cover 30 can beslipped over the neck 19 and interconnection section 18 of the boot 10(see FIG. 8).

As can be seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, the boot 10 and cover 30 can be usedwith coaxial cable interconnections of other configurations. Theinterconnection 270 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 employs a somewhat differentconnector 200 on the trunk cable 220. The connector 200 includes a body202 that is somewhat shorter than the body 102 of the connector 100, andthe stem 204 that extends from the body 102 to support the nut 206 ismuch shorter. (Such a connector is available from CommScope, Inc. underthe trade name EZ FIT). Thus, when the boot 10 is slipped over theconnector 200 (FIG. 9), the body 202 does not fill both the main section12 and the transition section 16 of the boot 10. When the cover 30 issubsequently slipped over the interconnection 270 of the connector 150of the jumper cable 160 (FIG. 10), the flange 34 abuts the main section12 of the boot 10, and the nut 206 and connector 150 reside within thetrunk 36 and the main section 38 of the cover 30. Thus, the same boot 10and cover 30 can be used to protect interconnections whether theconnector 100 or the connector 200 is employed as the termination of thetrunk cable.

FIGS. 11-13 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a boot (designatedbroadly at 500) that can also be employed to protect cableinterconnections. The boot 500 is configured to protect interconnectionsof cables that are oriented perpendicularly to each other (as opposed tobeing inline or coaxial, as is the case with the cables 120, 160illustrated herein). The boot 500 includes a main section 512, agenerally cylindrical cable collar 514 that is somewhat smaller indiameter than the main section 512, and a tapered transition section516, which is interposed between the cable collar 514 and the mainsection 512. However, the interconnection section 518 is larger than themain section 512 and is oriented perpendicularly to the main section512. A neck 519 extends from the interconnection section 518, and aflange 520 projects radially outwardly from the free end of the neck519. The result is a continuous bore 526 that veers 90 degrees betweenthe cable collar 514 and the neck 519. Such a boot can provide sealedprotection for an interconnection of a jumper cable inserted into thecable collar 514 and a trunk cable inserted into the neck 519.

The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to beconstrued as limiting thereof. Although exemplary embodiments of thisinvention have been described, those skilled in the art will readilyappreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplaryembodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings andadvantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications areintended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined inthe claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, withequivalents of the claims to be included therein.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A hollow cover boot formed of anelastomeric material, the cover boot including, in merging succession, acable collar, a transition section, a main section, an interconnectionsection, and a neck, wherein the main section has a diameter greaterthan the cable collar and the interconnection section, the transitionsection tapers between the main section and the cable collar, the neckhas a diameter smaller than the interconnection section, and wherein theinterconnection section has a diameter larger than the cable collar. 2.The cover boot defined in claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material ofthe cover boot comprises rubber.
 3. The cover boot defined in claim 1,further comprising fins that extend radially outwardly from the mainsection.
 4. The cover boot defined in claim 3, wherein the fins arelongitudinal fins.
 5. The cover boot defined in claim 3, wherein thefins also extend radially from the transition section.
 6. The cover bootdefined in claim 1, in combination with a trunk cable, wherein the cablecollar encircles the trunk cable.
 7. The combination defined in claim 6,wherein the trunk cable includes a connector attached to one end thatresides in the main section.
 8. A hollow cover boot formed of anelastomeric material, the cover boot including, in merging succession, acable collar, a transition section, a main section, an interconnectionsection, and a neck, wherein the main section has a diameter greaterthan the cable collar and the interconnection section, the transitionsection tapers between the main section and the cable collar, the neckhas a diameter smaller than the interconnection section, and theinterconnection section has a diameter larger than the cable collar, andfurther comprising at least one flange extending radially outwardly fromthe cable collar.
 9. The cover boot defined in claim 8, wherein theelastomeric material of the cover boot comprises rubber.
 10. The coverboot defined in claim 8, further comprising fins that extend radiallyoutwardly from the main section.
 11. The cover boot defined in claim 10,wherein the fins are longitudinal fins.
 12. The cover boot defined inclaim 10, wherein the fins also extend radially from the transitionsection.
 13. The cover boot defined in claim 8, in combination, with atrunk cable, wherein the cable collar encircles the trunk cable.
 14. Thecombination defined in claim 13, wherein the trunk cable includes aconnector attached to one end that resides in the main section.
 15. Acombination, comprising: (a) a hollow cover boot formed of anelastomeric material, the cover boot including, in merging succession, acable collar, a transition section, a main section, an interconnectionsection, and a neck, wherein the main section has a diameter greaterthan the cable collar and the interconnection section, the transitionsection tapers between the main section and the cable collar, and theneck has a diameter smaller than the interconnection section; and (b) atrunk cable, wherein the cable collar encircles the trunk cable, andwherein the trunk cable resides in the main section and theinterconnection section.
 16. A combination, comprising: (a) a hollowcover boot formed of an elastomeric material, the cover boot including,in merging succession, a cable collar, a transition section, a mainsection, an interconnection section, and a neck, wherein the mainsection has a diameter greater than the cable collar and theinterconnection section, the transition section tapers between the mainsection and the cable collar, and the neck has a diameter smaller thanthe interconnection section, and further comprising at least one flangeextending radially outwardly from the cable collar; and (b) a trunkcable, wherein the cable collar encircles the trunk cable, and whereinthe trunk cable resides in the main section and the interconnectionsection.